Island



(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 1.

E. H. WHITNEY. LOOKING GEAR FOR WINDLASSES.

No. 440,784. Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

2 Sheets-Sheet Z. E. H. WHITNEY. LOCKING GEAR FOR WINDLASSES.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 18

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UNITED STATES ATENT Orrrcn.

EDIVIN H. \VI-IITNEY, OF EAST PROVIDENCE, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SHIP IVINDLASS COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

LOCKING-GEAR FOR WINDLASSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,784, dated November 18, 1890.

Application filed March 14, 1890. Serial No. 343,909. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looking- Gear for Vindlasses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others :0 skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to windlasses; and its object is to improve the locking-gear by which the drums, barrels, or wild-cats are secured to and released from the drivingheads. A great variety of devices has been contrived for this purpose, some operating by means of sliding bolts, others by pivoted dogs, others by friction-clamps, and others by still different appliances. My invention relates to that class which utilizes the friction between two 2 5 surfaces to effect their mutual movement. I

accomplish this by applying to the loose member (the wild-cat or drum) a friction-band whose ends are attached to the fast member, (the driving-head.) The arrangement might go be reversed and the friction-band attached to the wild-cat, though I prefer the firstnamed construction. On the driving-h ead or adjacent thereto is mounted a locking-ring, revoluble independently of the driving-head 3 5 and adapted to tighten or loosen the frictionband according to the direction in which it is turned. An automatically-acting detent may be added to retain the lockingring in place when it has been moved to operate the clutch.

In the accompanying" drawings, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a pump-brake Windlass provided with my improved lockinggear. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 2 2,

- 5 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view, looking outboard of the port locking-gear, on an enlarged scale, the cam being removed. Fig. l is a similar view of the locking-ring. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the port locking-gear and wildcat, partly in section. Figs. 6 to 9 are details.

The wild-cat A, which may be taken as illustrative of any movable winding-barrel, is loosely mounted on the Windlass-shaft, as usual. Itis provided with acylindrical flange 5 5 to, extending from one edge, preferably the inner one, as shown. Secured to the shaft is the drivinghead B, actuated by friction clamps or clutches C of a well-known construction. Adjacent to the driving-head and between it and the wildcat is secured to the shaft a locking-head D, comprising a hub cl and a disk or web (1. The disk fits within the'flange a of the wild-cat and has an axiallyprojecting flange d near its periphery, which has an outwardly-turned lip or rim (i extending somewhat beyond the surface of the flange a on the wildcat. A boss (Z is cast integral with. the disk (1 and flange (Z and is slotted at d to admit a bolt E, by which is fastened to the locking-head D the lug F, formed upon one end of the friction-band G. The lug rests upon the flange d and is recessed atf to receive the flange a of the wildcat. The bolt E is attached to the lug in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a pin f passing through an eye in the end of the bolt, which enters a slot in the lower part of the lug. By means of a nut c and washer e the lug F can be adjusted toward or away 8 from the boss (1, the rim (1 being cut away for a short space to permit the lug to move. 7

The friction-band G proceeds from that portion of the lug F that lies outside of the flange a of the wild-cat, so that the band cov- 5 ers the flange, being held from lateral dis placement by the rim a of the wildcat and the edge'of the rim (Z of the locking-head D. The other end of the friction-band is provided with the lug F, which is located near 9 the lug F, the band passing almost entirely around the circumference of the flange a of the wildcat. The lug F is recessed at f to receive the flange of the wild-cat, and depends into the space between this flange and the 5 flange d of the locking-head, and between the boss (1* and a second somewhat similar boss d. In the latter boss is fulcrumedan elbow-lever I-l bya pin h. The boss is slotted to permit the short arm h of the lever to I00 play within it, while the flange d is slotted to permit the long arm 77/ of the lever to pass into the space between said flange and the hub (Z. The short arm h is adapted to operate smoothly against the rounded edge of the lug F. WVhen the long arm of the lever is thrown outwardly, the short arm slides the lug F toward the lug F. the rim (1 being cut away, as shown, to permit the lug F to move.

So long as the lugs remain at their positions of extreme separation the band G lies loose on the flange of the wild-cat, which is free to revolve independent of the lockinghead D; but when the lug F is thrown toward the lug F by the operation of the lever H the band tightens upon the flange a with a powerful grip that compels the wild-cat to move with the locking-head D, the clutching effect being due to the friction between the surfaces of the band and the flange a. Those who are familiar with the operation of friction-band brakes will appreciate the effectiveness of this locking gear or clutch.

In order to actuate the lever H, I provide a locking-ring K, revolubly mounted on the hub d. When the hub is made separate from the driving-head B, the mug can be formed in one piece and retained in place by a collar L, removably secured to the hub by screw-bolts Z, or in any other suitable manner. When the hub 01 and disk d are cast integral with the driving-head B, the collar can be a permanent one L, formed in one piece with the hub, and the ring K made in two parts held together by bolts 10, as shown in Fig. 9. ring is provided with the usual hand-spike sockets It. On the inner face of the ring is cast or secured a cam M, whose periphery acts against the end of the lever H. A roller I may be attached to the end of the lever to reduce the friction. When the end of the lever rests on the lesser diameter of the cam at m, the band G is loose. When the cam is revolved by turning the ring K on the hub d, the long arm of the lever H is carried outwardly and the bandis tightened. The curve of the cam may be such as practice may determine to be best. I prefer, however, to make it a plane spiral in which the rate of progression of the generating-point is constantly lessening, so that the effect may be slower and more powerful toward the end of its action. 7

To prevent the cam from loosening under the jar and vibration of the machine when in operation, I prefer to provide it with two or more pawls N, freely pivoted on the face of the ring K and adapted to engage with the ratchet-teeth 0, formed on the collar L or L. It will be seen that when the ring K is thrown over in the direction of the arrow to tighten the band the uppermost pawl will ride over the ratchet-teeth and engage therewith the instant the ring ceases to move. The slight tendency of the ring to turn backward when the strain on the handspike is relaxed serves to hold the pawl firmly in engagement, even when the wild-cat revolves and the pawl comes underneath. The idle pawl or pawls Thehang loosely and do not interfere with the movement of the ring, their backs being concave to conform to the curvature of the periphery of the ratchet, whereby they slide over the teeth Without engaging with them. It will be seen, however, that they automati' cally arrange themselves one after the other as the ring turns forward, so that the uppermost one is ready to engage with the ratchet. When the locking-ring is to be turned backward to release the friction-band, the engaging pawl can be easily reached by hand and thrown out of engagement should it be on the top, While if it is underneath a slight forward movement of the ring will release the pawl and allow it to drop.

The friction band has another function aside from that of the locking-gear. It serves also as a brake to regulate the speed of the wild-cat when the cable is running out, the locking-head being prevented from rotating with the wild-cat by reason of the drivinghead clamp 0. Upon gently turning the locking-ring forward by means of a handspike the band will be caused to bear upon the flange a with a pressure suflicient to retard or even to stop the wildcat, thus placing the speed of the cable under complete control. This function of the locking-gear enables me to dispense with all other braking apparatus, and tends to simplify the Windlass.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination,with the Wild-cat A,having the flange a, of the locking-head D, the friction-band G, having one end adjustably fastened to said locking-head and the other end provided with a lug, a lever fulcrumed on the locking-head and adapted to impinge upon said lug, and a cam for actuating the lever, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with the wild-cat A,having the flange a, of the locking-head D, the friction-band G, having one end fastened to the locking-head and the otherprovided with a lug, a lever fulcrumed on the locking-head and adapted to move the lug, and a loose locking-ring concentric with the shaft and provided with a spiral cam arranged to actuate the lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with the wild-cat A,l1aving the flange a, of the locking-head D, having the hub d and the bosses (1 d the friction-band G, having the lugs F F, the screwbolt E, attached to the lug F and also to the boss at, the elbow-lever H, fulcrumed in the boss 61 having a short arm impinging against the lug F and a long arm lying adjacent to the hub, and the spiral cam loosely mounted on the hub and arranged to actuate the long arm of the lever, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the wild-cat having a cylindrical flange, of the friction-band surrounding the flange and having'at each end a lug integral with said band, and each lug being provided with a recess to receive engage with the annular ratchet, each pawl having a concave back to fit the curve of the ratchet When thrown over backward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN H. WHITNEY.

W'itnesses:

GEO. P. WHITrLEsEY, S. G. HOPKINS. 

